Mkhitaryan: Previous meetings are history - it's all about tomorrow

The game at the Stadio Olimpico gets underway at 21:00 CEST, with a full-house expected at the ground.

Norwegian champions Bodo hold a 2-1 advantage from the first leg.

You are one of many Roma players with lots of European experience behind you. But how difficult is this fourth meeting against Bodo/Glimt, a relatively new team at this level, going to be?

“What has happened in the past is history now. Tomorrow will be a different game and we need to show that we are capable of beating Bodo. We can’t spend time thinking about how games we have played in international competition or that some of us have won competitions like the Europa League before.

"Tomorrow's game is one you need to have the right mentality for. No-one cares what you've won or what you've done in the past - it doesn't matter. Tomorrow we need to play our game and show what we are capable of. We need to win the game. That's the only thing that matters."

When you joined Roma you said you wanted to win something here before you left. Given that your contract ends in the summer, this could be your best chance to deliver on that wish. And, as far as the contract goes, are you working together with the club on your future?

“The first thing is true: wherever I have gone I have always wanted to win a trophy there, I have always wanted to make my name a part of the club’s history. It’s a target I have always had, to win something: because I don’t just play football for the sake of it, or to have fun. For me playing football means winning, because at the end of your football career it is the trophies that are the only tangible thing that remain.

“I don’t want to talk about the contract. The right moment to do so will come. There is still plenty of time to discuss it, to see what happens – because right now my thoughts are fully focused on Roma’s upcoming games.”

If you win the Conference League then you will have honoured your promise…

“I hope so. But right now the important thing is to win tomorrow. That’s what we need to be thinking about right now.”

Do you see this season as something of an evolution in your career, considering you have played in a number of different positions – some of them relatively new?

“Obviously I would have liked to score more and provide more assists, but this is football and you have to play as a team. For me the most important thing is to be playing; it doesn’t matter whether that is on the left or right, as the No. 10 or in central midfield. What counts is being out there and helping the team to win games, because football is a team sport.”

Having been here a while now, do you have an insight into why Roma seems to be a tough club to win trophies at? And would that struggle make it even more amazing to manage to do it?

“Since I’ve been here in Rome, I have been well aware of the passion of the fans – who are always talking about winning something, or what they have won in the past. For me it has always been very clear that I am here to try to win something. Obviously it’s difficult to achieve that, but if managed to do that it would be an incredible thing for the club and for the city.

“I don’t know why we have not won something recently but I am confident in our chances – we are taking the right steps forward in order to do so. We are a young side and even this season we have made a number of changes compared to the last campaign. But that is not an excuse: we need to play together and win together and make sure everyone is thinking and believing in the same way. I think we will achieve that goal over the next few years. Or even this year – but a lot of that depends on tomorrow’s game.”

This time last year the squad seemed to have so many injuries, but this year the situation is much better – has something changed compared to last year?

“This is a positive thing, the fact that we are all available and ready to play tomorrow. Last year we had lots of injuries. They looked into it but I don’t know why it was happening: last year we had lots of injuries and this year there have been fewer. The important thing is that we are all ready for tomorrow. We need to fight together – not just those who will start the game, but those on the bench as well.”